August 17, 2015 at 6:30 PM - Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board Meeting

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Notice to visitors: If you wish to speak, please obtain a “Request to be Heard” form from the entry table and return the completed form to the table attendant or the Board of Education Director.

The agenda will be kept current and available for public inspection in the office of the Secretary of the Board of Education at the Administrative Building during regular working hours. 

Board members may request specific agenda item(s) be moved to a different place on the agenda.  Please attend the entire meeting to ensure you hear discussion on a particular agenda item.

Pursuant to Section 84-1412 of the Nebraska Statutes, the public is hereby informed that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in the Board meeting room on the north wall.

Agenda items are subject to reordering at discretion of the board president, please attend the entire meeting to ensure you're able to hear any discussion. If you would like to rehear any discussion, please listen to our podcast located on the District Web Page, district.ops.org.

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Rationale:  The Vision:  Every Student.  Every Day.  Prepared for Success.

The Mission:  Omaha Public Schools prepares all students to excel in college, career, and life.

Rationale:  Congratulations to the Career Center and its SkillsUSA team!  It’s been a busy, productive last few months for the team, which competes locally, regionally, and nationally in career/technical skills competitions (with categories such as TV/radio production, health care, etc).  The team won 34 medals at the state meet, and then went on to nationals in Kentucky over the summer.  At nationals, the Career Center team competed against thousands of other students from around the country and had a good showing overall.  We salute the SkillsUSA students for their outstanding efforts!

Rationale:  The Treasurer's Report for July 2015 is attached for review.

Rationale:  At this time, any Board member may request that any item in the consent agenda be removed from the consent agenda and be considered and voted on separately. 

Rationale:  APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA

It is recommended that the claims for the School District of Omaha be approved as presented by the central administrative staff.

A.    CLAIMS REPORT A

Rationale:  APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA

It is recommended that the claims for the School District of Omaha be approved as presented by the central administrative staff.

A.    CLAIMS REPORT B

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APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT NO. 19

It is recommended that the claims for Educational Service Unit No. 19 be approved as presented by the central administrative staff.

Rationale:  The Committee on Claims met on 08/17/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

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Appointment  of the following individuals to serve as Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System for the school year 2015-2016:

Roger Rea - Retired Member Representative;
James Ripa - Classified Staff Representative;
Lance Purdy and DeLayne Havlovic - Certificated Staff Representatives.

Rationale:  Policy 5150 contains revisions of board policy 6.07.   Policy 5101 updates language to reflect current Office of Community, School, and Family Engagement.  Policy 5101 also removed reference to Elementary Behavior Guidelines and Director, Board of Education Services. 

Rationale:  Policy 2600 (Substance Abuse), Policy 4008 (Separation), Policy 4011 (Bloodborne Pathogen), Policy 4023 (Notification of Arrest) were updated from title of Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources to Chief Human Resources Officer.

Rationale:  Mr. Rob Dickson will provide an update on the Technology Audit.

Rationale:  Plans are being developed for utilization of the Liberty Christian Center facility (the former Ryan High School) for relocation of Belle Ryan Elementary and Western Hills Elementary students for temporary housing during the construction of new facilities at those two sites. Staff is reviewing any necessary building and site modifications to meet classroom/program needs, accommodations for parking and transportation of students, as well as any potential zoning requirements. Both building principals have been engaged in the planning process. Information on the temporary location was shared in the August 5^th Western Hills community meeting. Information will be shared with the Belle Ryan community at that school’s September 2^nd meeting.

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Staff will be available to communicate with the Board concerning development of an RFQ for various updated provider services that can best interface with the Board-approved Economic Inclusion Plan goals and strategies. A particular objective will be an emphasis on access to information that can facilitate coordination of efforts for growing participation of Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in engagement with the District as contractors and vendors across both the OPS bond issue projects and the day-to-day work of the District.

 

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The Board of Trustees approved the following motion at the August 15, 2015 meeting:

"I move that the entire balance of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System’s Limited Partner’s Capital Accounts in the Atlantic Asset Global Yield Opportunity Fund be withdrawn."

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GRANT FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

REIMBURSABLE GRANT FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

It is recommended that the receipts and expenditures of the detailed grant fund budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year be amended to include the following reimbursable programs:

A.   TITLE II - PART A – PREPARING, TRAINING AND RECRUITING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 466415.

Central Administrative Staff request approval to accept the Title II Part A Teacher Quality carryover budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $1,632,274.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 2015.  This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2014-2015 school year.  This is carryover from the 2013-2014 school year for the purpose of providing high, quality professional development to significantly impact student achievement.  With the carryover the total budget becomes $4,336,407.00.

This program is 100% reimbursable.

B.   TITLE III – LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 464915.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title III Limited English Proficient carryover budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $62,561.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 2015.  This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2014-2015 school year.  This is carryover from the 2013-2014 school year for the purpose of providing for specialized instruction, ESL materials and supplies, teachers and paraprofessionals that work with immigrant students to acquire use of the English language.  With the carryover the total budget becomes $1,002,797.00.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

Foundation Grants and Grants less than $10,000.00 to be amended into the 2014-2015 budgets are available for review in the Board Workroom.

1.   FOUNDATION GRANTS

These budget amendments in the amount of $133,282.00 are for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  These amendments represent only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2014-2015 school year for new Foundation Grants.

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

2.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

    

No Grants less than $10,000 have been submitted for Board Action.

 

Rationale:  Staff recommends the approval of the 2015-16 Administrator/Supervisor salaries of the attached positions.

Rationale:  Staff recommends the approval of the 2015-16 Non-Negotiated salaries of the attached positions.

Rationale:  The Omaha Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold closed sessions.  Closed sessions may be held when clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual.  Reasons that meet this standard include but are not limited to:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate matters, pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting; and (e) legal advice.